Knoppix as a multimedia server?

**JockVSJock** · 02-03-2004, 02:53 AM

I got an extra box, so I installed Knoppix 3.3 on it.

I want to set it up as a multimedia server, and have no keyboard, mouse, or crt to it. Basically play ogg/mp3s thru my home stereo via another computer.

Could anyone recommend like a desktop emulator to do this under Linux?

thanks

**arkaine23** · 02-03-2004, 03:38 AM

Try running a vncserver so you can work grapically from another computer with your knoppix desktop in a vnc client window.

I think the command to start a vncserver is something like

vncserver -geomtery 1024x768 hostname:1

Then you'd run a vnc client on another computer and connect to hostname:1

**JockVSJock** · 02-03-2004, 03:51 AM

Any special settings for X?

How is the connection made, SSH? Do I have to do anything special to set that up?

**aay** · 02-03-2004, 04:44 AM

Originally Posted by JockVSJock

I got an extra box, so I installed Knoppix 3.3 on it.

I want to set it up as a multimedia server, and have no keyboard, mouse, or crt to it. Basically play ogg/mp3s thru my home stereo via another computer.

Could anyone recommend like a desktop emulator to do this under Linux?

thanks

I used to have a setup like this. I would ssh into the media box and play tunes via mp3blaster (you can apt-get it). Mp3blaster is a very cool ncurses mp3/ogg player. Of course if you can ssh into it and it is a reasonably fast box, you could also run a gui app like rhythmbox (which is a great multimedia jukebox). Another option is running something like Zina or Netjuke. That way you could access the media box from any machine on your network with a browser. You can find Zina and Netjuke at the following pages.

http://www.pancake.org/zina.html
http://netjuke.sourceforge.net/

**JockVSJock** · 02-03-2004, 04:47 AM

ah ya, streaming audio.

I could also set that up on this box, since I have pretty decent hardware.

thanks for the idea.

**garyng** · 02-05-2004, 07:16 AM

I just start GDM on my xbox and on my desktop 'X -query ip_address' of it to login to it and run whatever program there. audio is easy as it defaults to that machine(needs to install esound if I want it to go to my machine). For video, have to tell it to use the frame buffer console instead, so I watch DVD/VCD on TV through xbox, controlled from my PC.

**aay** · 02-05-2004, 03:44 PM

I should have mentioned this before, but another option you will want to check out (especially if this is going to be a dedicated box) is Knoppmyth even though Knoppmyth is tv/video oriented it also can be used soley to play music. It has a great interface too. I'm planning on building one of these boxes as soon as I get enough money for the pvr-350 tv card.

**JockVSJock** · 02-07-2004, 05:57 AM

Originally Posted by aay

Originally Posted by JockVSJock

I got an extra box, so I installed Knoppix 3.3 on it.

I want to set it up as a multimedia server, and have no keyboard, mouse, or crt to it. Basically play ogg/mp3s thru my home stereo via another computer.

Could anyone recommend like a desktop emulator to do this under Linux?

thanks

I used to have a setup like this. I would ssh into the media box and play tunes via mp3blaster (you can apt-get it). Mp3blaster is a very cool ncurses mp3/ogg player. Of course if you can ssh into it and it is a reasonably fast box, you could also run a gui app like rhythmbox (which is a great multimedia jukebox). Another option is running something like Zina or Netjuke. That way you could access the media box from any machine on your network with a browser. You can find Zina and Netjuke at the following pages.

http://www.pancake.org/zina.html
http://netjuke.sourceforge.net/

Thanks for the tip on mp3blater, I have been using that for the last few days to play audio. Just ssh into the box and running it and it works like a charm.

When I get more time, I do want to setup the other apps that you and others have mentioned in this thread.

thanks again

**JockVSJock** · 02-14-2004, 04:04 PM

Originally Posted by arkaine23

Try running a vncserver so you can work grapically from another computer with your knoppix desktop in a vnc client window.

I think the command to start a vncserver is something like

vncserver -geomtery 1024x768 hostname:1

Then you'd run a vnc client on another computer and connect to hostname:1

What about using KDE Desktop Manager, I was looking thru a few past threads on the forum and found that.

Is there like a step-by-step direction for using this from both Linux/Windows box using SSH?

thanks